Metal-edge-box machine.



PATENTED JUNE 27, 1905.

J. S. STOKES.

METAL EDGE BOX MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED OUT. 7. 1899. RENEWED DEG 18,-1902.

8 SHBETS-SHEET 1.

Wil /6695352 No; 793,549. PATENTED JUNE 27, 1905.

- Ls. STO'KBS.

METAL EDGE BOX MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 7. 1899. RENEWED DEC. 18, 1902.

a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED JUNE 27, 1905'.

J. S. STOKES.- METAL EDGE BOX MACHINE.

APPLICATION EILED OUT. 7, 1899. RENEWED DEC 18, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 EMA 02a a MW UNITED STATES latented June 27, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN STOGDELL STOKES, OF MOORESTOWN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN METAL EDGE BOX COMPANY, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

METAL-EDGE-BOX MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 793,549, dated June 27, 1905.

Application filed October '7, 1899. Renewed December 18,1902. Serial No. 135,796.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J oHN STOGDELL STOKES, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Moorestown, New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements in Metal-Edge-Box Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in machines for securing metal edges to the corners of boxes.

The object of my invention is to improve the construction of machines of this class and to increase the speed of such machines, so that a greater number of boxes can be made than 5 heretofore. A still further object of the invention is to so construct the mechanism that the feed of the strip will take place during a certain portion of the stroke of the plunger.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side view of my improved metal-edge-box machine. Fig. 2 is a front view with a portion broken away to show the crank mechanism. Figs. 3, 4,. 5, and 6 are diagrams illus- 5 trating the action of the feed mechanism. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a portion of the plunger. Fig. 8 is a side view of a portion of the strip-guide and feed-pawl.

section on line 9 9, Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a sec- 3 tional view showing the cutter. Fig. 11 is a plan view showing the feed-pawl.

A is the base of the machine. on this base is a frame A, and projecting from the front of this frame is the anvil B,

3 5 in the present instance quadrangular in crossscction and having a detachable anvil-block D at its upper edge. The anvil is tapered lengthwise and has flanges by which it is secured to the frame A. Above the anvil-block 4 and also secured to the frame A is a bracket D, in which is guided the plunger E, carrying at its lower end a block E, having a groove 0 in its under side. This block forms part of the plunger and is preferably made adjustable thereon. Blocks having grooves of different form may be readily attached to the plunger. The groove 0 of the plunger is of the same contour as the anvil-block 7), so

Fig. 9 isa' Mounted that when the plunger is forced down upon the anvil-block the box and metal strip will be shaped according to the contour of these parts. i

In Fig. 1 I have shown the plunger and anvil shaped to secure metal edges to right-angled-corner boxes; but it will be understood by altering the shape of the detachable parts fancy-cornered boxes may be made on this machine.

F is the driving-shaft, having step-pulleys f for a driving-belt. This shaft F in the present instance is geared to a crank-shaft F by gears f f". The two shafts are mounted in bearings on a bracket A secured to the side of the base A. The gear-wheel f is loose on the shaft F and can be coupled thereto by a clutch F of any suitable construction, which is operated in the present instance by a foot-leverf, connected to the clutch mechanism by a rod f.

On the end of the shaft F is a crank F to which is connected the rod G, made up of a head 9 and side bars g. This rod extends through the frame A of the machine and is attached to the long arm of a lever H, the short arm of this lever being pivoted at it to the upper portion of the bracket D. The plunger E is connected to the lever at 72, by a link H, so that the lever H and link H act as a knuckle-joint.

Projecting from the rear of the machine is a bracketI, having bearings for the trunnions of the strip-reel I. The strip z' passes from the reel and over a channel-bar J, pivoted at to a block secured to the inner end of the plunger-block E. The channel-bar is formed, as shown in cross-section in Fig. 9, having a central projection 1' on which the strip rests, and flanges under which the strip is guided. A space on each side of the central projection f isof suflicient depth to allow the prongs of the strip to pass freely. Adapted to slide on the channel-bar J is a block J. (Clearly shown in Figs. 8 and 9.) This block has a pawl provided with two prongs which enter the perforations in each 95 side of the strip 5. This pawl is the feedpawl of the machine and is connected to a bell-crank lever K, which is pivoted at to the frame A. The long arm of this bellcrank lever is slotted,- and a .stud on the block J extends through this slot, so that on the movement of the lever the block J will haveasliding motion on the bar J. The short arm of the bell-crank lever is connected by a rod K to a crank L, projecting from the crankpin of the crank F The pivot of the crank L is nearer the center of the shaft F than the crank-pin of the crank F The two crankpins of the cranks F" and L are so set in respect to each other and to the center of the shaft F that there will be a quick forward feed during both the up and down strokes of the plunger. Thus I am enabled to materially increase the speedof the machine and yet give a proper length of time for the feed of the strip, so as to insure accurate work.

In the diagrams Figs. 3 to 6 I have'shown the position of the feeding mechanism at different points of the stroke. In Fig. 3 the plunger is at the end of its downstroke, the crank F being down, while the crank of the feed mechanism is passing the center going up. In Fig. 4 the plunger has commenced its upward movement, and thefeed-bloek has been moved to its extreme position ready to feed the strip forward. In Fig. 5 the plunger is raised to its full height and the feedblock is moving the strip forward, having moved the strip half-Way. In Fig. 6 the plunger is on its downstrokc, the feed of the strip has been completed, and the feed-block is ready to return. Thus it will be seen that the feed of the strip takes place partly on the upstroke of the plunger and partly on the downstrokc. I

Modifications of the above-described mechanism may be used without departing from my invention.

The strip afterit is fed forward is held in its forward position byadetent-pawl n, which is similar to the pawl f of the block J. The two fingers of the pawl enter the openings at each side of the strip, thus preventing the backward movement of the strip when the block J is returned. There is, however, sufficient friction to cause the block J and its pawl 1' to place tension on the strip and cause it to impinge upon the forward edge of the fingers of the detent-pawl. before the strip is cut by thedownward movement of the plunger. The perforations in the strip are larger than the fingers of the pawl, and in order that the feed'will be accurate, so that each cut may be made between said perforations, I so time the machine that after the strip has been fed forward tension will be placed upon it to cause apartial retraction sufficient to cause the forward edge of each perforation to engage the fingers of the detent pawl. Afterthe feed has been properly made the strip is cut off by the cutter m, as clearly shown in Fig. 10. This cutter is of-the ordinary type of cutters of this class of machines.

The means for retaining the strip to the plunger is clearly shown in Fig. 7, and consists of a spring-actuated bar projecting from each side of the groove in the plunger. This device forms the subject of a separate application filed September 25, 1899, Serial No. 731,655.

The operation of the machine is as follows: If a square-cornered box is to be made, the plunger and anvil shown in the drawings are used,and the reel,with the metal strip,is placed on the bracket 1, the end of said strip being passed through the channel J and into the groove of the plunger. The machine is now set in motion, the box to be formed is placed over the anvil, and the strip is fed forward by the feed-pawl j on the block J engaging the strip, and before the plunger completes its been completed and the pawl 91. retains the' strip in its forward position. As the feedpawl j returns for a fresh engagement with the strip its frictional contact therewith causes a slight backward movement of said strip,- and when said pawl reaches its limit of rearward movement and is held momentarily before the next feeding operation the forward edges of the perforations engaged by said pawl'will be brought against its fingers. The pawl is so set with respect to the cutter that when the strip is in the position just noted the cut will be made between the perforations of the same, 1 thus insuring an even and smooth edge at each end of the strip. During the completion of the downward stroke of the plunger the feedpawl is retracted, having completed about half of its return stroke. The metal strip is forced down onto the edge of the box and bent over the edge and its spurs forced into the body of the box and clenched by the plunger. As the plunger completes its stroke the cutter m severs that portion of the strip which is to be secured to the box from the body of the strip. As the plunger is raised the feed-pawl completes its return movement and commences to feed the strip forward again before the plunger reaches its full height. Another corner of the box is placed in position during the time the plunger is raised, and as the plunger is again forced down the feed of the strip is completed and that portion of the strip under the plunger is cut offand clenched to the box, as above described. Thus it will be seen that the feed of the strip takes place both during the return movement of theplunger and the down movement of the plunger, and consequently I am enabled to materially increase the speed of the machine.

I claim as my invention 1. In a machine for applying to the corners of boxes metal strips having perforations ar ranged at regular intervals, the combination -of an anvil, a plunger, means for feeding the downward motion the feed of the strip hasstrip to the plunger, a retaining-pawl engaging the perforations of the strip, means for:

operating the strip-feeding mechanism, means for severing said strip, and means for retracting the strip against the retaining-pawl for the purpose of locating the strip with the perforations in a predetermined position with relation to the cutters whereby the blank will be severed from the strip always at the same distance from a perforation.

2. In a machine for applying to the corners of boxes metal strips having perforations arranged at regular intervals, the combination of an anvil, a plunger, means for feeding the strip to the plunger, a retaining-pawl engaging the perforations of the strip, means for severing said strip and means for operating the strip-feeding mechanism, so as to retract the strip against the retaining-pawl for the purpose of locating the strip with the perforations in a predetermined position with relation to the cutters whereby the blank will be severed from the strip always at the same dis tance from a perforation.

3. In a machine for applying to the corners of boxes metal strips having perforations arranged at regular intervals, the combination of an anvil, a plunger, means for feeding the strip between the anvil and the plunger, mechanism for operatingthe feeding means, a detent-pawl having fingers engaging the perforations of the strip, and a knife for cutting the strip, and means for operating the feeding mechanism, so as to retract the strip against the detent-pawl for the purpose of locating the strip 'with the perforations in a predetermined position with relation to the knife whereby the blank will be severed from the strip always at the same distance from a perforation.

4. In a machine for securing to boxes metal strips having perforations arranged at regular intervals, the combination of an anvil, a pluntoward the anvil, a knife, means engaging the perforations of the strip and means for moving the strip during part of the downward and part of. the return movement of the plunger against such engaging means for the purpose of locating said strip with the perforations in a predetermined position with relation to the knife whereby the blank will be severed from the strip always at the same distance from'a perforation.

5. In a machine for securing to boxes metal strips having perforations arranged at regular intervals, the combination of an anvil, a plunger, means for feeding the strip between the anvil and the plunger, a detent'for engaging the perforations of the strip, a cutter between the detent and the plunger, and means for operating the strip-feeding mechanism, said means being timed with respect to the operating mechanism of the plunger so that the feed will take place during the last part of the return stroke of the plunger and the first part of the downward stroke of the same and serving to retract the strip against the detent for the purpose of locating the strip with the perforations in a predetermined position with relation to the cutter whereby the blank will be severed from the strip always at the same distance from a perforation.

6. The combination in a metal-edge-box machine, ofan anvil, a plunger, a guide connected to the plunger, a detent-pawl, a block sliding on said guide, a feed-pawl carried by said block, a bell-crank lever pivoted to the frame of the machine and having its long arm slotted, a pin on the block extending into the slot of said lever, a crank, and a rod connecting the short arm of the bell-crank lever with said crank, substantially as described.

7. The combination in a metal-edge-box machine, of an anvil, a plunger arranged to reciprocate from and toward said anvil, a driving-shaft, a crank thereon, a bell-crank lever connected to said crank, a guideway for the metal strip attached to'one end of the plunger, and a block carrying a feed-pawl, the movement of said pawlwith the block on the guideway being controlled by the bellcrank lever, substantially as described.

8. The combination in a metal-edge-box machine, of an anvil, a plunger, a channeled bar pivoted to the plunger, a cutter carried by the plunger andsituated near the pivot,

a detent-pawl having two prongs which enter the perforations in the strip to be fed, a slide-block on the channeled bar, a feed-pawl carried by said slide-block, said feed-pawl also having fingers entering the perforations 9. In a machine for securing to boxes metal strips having perforations arranged at regu lar Intervals, the combination of an anvil, a

plunger, means for positively feeding the metal strip, said means engaging its perforations, a cutter, a retaining-pawl also engaging the perforations of the strip, means for operating the strip-feeding mechanism, and

means for positively retracting the strip against the retaining-pawl for the purpose of locating the strip with a perforation in a predetermined position with relation to the cutter whereby the blank will be severed from .the strip always at the same distance-from a perforation.

10. In a machine for securing to boxes metal strips having perforations arranged at regular intervals, of an anvil, a plunger acting with the anvil whereby the metal strip is clenched to the corner of a box, a cutter for cutting the strip the proper length, a feeding-pawl having teeth entering the perfora' tions of the strip, means for operating the i feed-pawl, and :a detent-pawl also having teeth entering the perforations of the strip, the operating mechanism of the feed-pawl being so timed thatsaid pawl will be retracted before the cutting of the strip whereby the latter will be moved against the detent-pawl for the purpose of locating the latter with a perforation in a predetermined position with relation to the cutter whereby the blank will 

